Drink driver chased by police at over 100mph fined and banned

A police car reached speeds of over 100mph in a high-speed bid to catch a speeding drink driver.

Police chased William Maclean, 26, of Pinewood Court in Inverness, for five miles in the early hours of Sunday morning before finally gaining on him.

They began their pursuit after spotting Maclean driving “very fast indeed” through the Co-op roundabout in Lerwick.

At one point the police were driving at 110mph without gaining on him. He had almost reached Scalloway before he was finally stopped.

Maclean was found to be more than twice the legal drink driving limit, with 81 microgrammes of alcohol in his system.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court today he admitted the drink driving charge, and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at grossly excessive speeds for five miles while intoxicated.

He was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1,233.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Maclean, a lorry driver working in Shetland, could face losing his job as a result of the offence.

He said Maclean was not sure of the speeds he was travelling at, although he did not think it was 110 mph.

“He knows he shouldn’t have taken the car,” he said.

Maclean can reduce his ban by four months if he completes a drink driving rehabilitation course.

However he will have to sit an extended test before being allowed back on the road.

Meanwhile, a man who admitted driving while over three times the drink driving limit could face having his car confiscated.

Scott McCulloch, 37, of the town’s Mill Lane, pleaded guilty to driving with 122 microgrammes of alcohol in his system on Sunday when he appeared in court today – the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie pointed to McCulloch’s past convictions as reason to forfeit his vehicle.

However defence agent Tommy Allan said the car was subject to a hire purchase agreement, which means it is not McCulloch’s outright.

The case was continued for further consideration until next Wednesday.

McCulloch was disqualified in the meantime and released on bail.